Drug racket busted, woman peddler held in South East Delhi

Police have busted a drug racket operating from Taimoor Nagar area of South East Delhi with the arrest of a 32-year-old woman. Police also recovered 265 grams of heroin worth several lakhs of rupees from her possession. One kilogram of quality heroin can fetch up to Rs 80 lakh in the retail market, according to police.

Police said Hasina Begum, a resident of Taimoor Nagar, had been in the business for the past 12 years and was supported by her husband. She had youth to carry out sales in her team and 'spies' to keep an eye on cops.

According to the police, Begum was keeping away from business for the last two months after the arrest of two of her salesmen, but got into the act again to dispose of her stock.

"Based on reports about drug peddling in Delhi and NCR, we had formed teams to nab those involved. We had gathered some intelligence regarding supply of heroin in Taimur Nagar, Khirjrabad village. After getting information about the movement of drugs in Delhi and on Friday evening we laid a trap near a drain in Taimoor Nagar. We spotted a suspect sitting beside a water supply pipe, who, on seeing the police, tried to run away. Our men, however, gave her a chase and apprehended her," said Chinmoy Biswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south-east).

During the search, police recovered 265 grams of heroin from her possession, following which she was arrested under section 21 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act.

"During interrogation, Begum disclosed that her brother-in-law used to sell ganja and heroin in order to earn quick money and she also joined him. She used to purchase heroin at Rs 12 lakh/kg from suppliers and sold them in small packets, earning a profit of Rs 3 lakh per kilogram," said Biswal.

Police said it also came to light that Begum had hired unemployed youth for selling heroin packets and used to pay them Rs 500 a day.

"In order to avoid being caught, she even deployed youth to keep a watch on police movement and tip her off, paying them Rs 200 per day," said Biswal.

Last month, police had arrested two drug peddlers and recovered 800 grams of heroin from their possession. "Begum had stopped her activities since the arrest of the two last month. However, she got back into business some days back in order to dispose of the stock she procured," said Biswal.